As winter tightens its grip, Delhi experienced its coldest day of the season as the minimum temperature plummeted below five degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) New Delhi-Safdarjung monitoring station recorded a chilling 4.9 degrees Celsius, marking a significant drop in temperature.
The national capital is now colder than Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, where the minimum temperature was relatively milder at 6.8 degrees Celsius. Despite the cold wave, Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to hover around 24 degrees Celsius, while Shimla is anticipated to reach a maximum of 15 degrees.
The dipping temperatures have been persistent, with Delhi reporting a minimum of 6.2 degrees Celsius yesterday, marking the lowest this winter. The city has been witnessing below-normal temperatures for the past few days, with Wednesday recording 7.4 degrees Celsius, Tuesday at 6.8 degrees Celsius, and Monday at 6.5 degrees Celsius.
In addition to the biting cold, Delhi residents are grappling with deteriorating air quality, with several monitoring stations reporting ‘Very Unhealthy’ levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 250 mark, indicating a hazardous environment. In Anand Vihar, the AQI soared to 475, raising concerns about the detrimental impact on public health. Yesterday, the overall AQI stood at 358, categorizing the air quality as ‘very poor.’
The winter chill is accompanied by fog in various regions of north and northeast India, affecting visibility. The IMD reported very dense fog in isolated pockets over Punjab and shallow to moderate fog in isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura at 5:30 am.
As the capital braces for colder days ahead, residents are advised to take necessary precautions to stay warm, and authorities are closely monitoring the air quality situation to mitigate the impact on public health.
